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*Louisville Dominates Detroit in an 8-3 Victory at Mockingbird Valley*

By: Benjamin Wilson, International Soccer Network

It was another packed house at Mockingbird Valley Soccer Club as the
Louisville Lightning dominated in their first home win against the Detroit
Waza 8-3.

In the beginning stages of the first half the Waza looked to be setting up a
slow-paced tempo.

The Waza’s strategy didn’t seem to work well against the Lightning. In the
12th minute of play Louisville’s Gabe Mericer scored an unassisted goal —
sailing past Detroit’s goalkeeper. Mericer’s goal gives him his first on
the season.

With their aggressive offense, the Lightning smashed the Waza with seven
shots on goal to Detroit’s two. Louisville’s control over the first quarter
made the Waza scramble to find answers against their squirrelly opponent.

The Lightning’s pestering paid off. Forward Sefet Kovacevic shot a screaming
liner 10-feet from the Waza goal to make it past Yao Kra.

Louisville’s defense proved to be on-point as well. Their first half stats
comprised of 10 Frank Peabody saves to Yao’s eight. Though Detroit had 11
shots on goal in the first half, their efforts were squandered by
Louisville’s pressing defense.

Exploring new territories in defending, the Waza switched their second
quarter action plans by picking up their defensive speed. But, unlike like
Louisville, Detroit’s overaggressive attacking and flashy ball handling led
them to zero first-half goals and nine minutes of penalty time.

It seemed as if the second quarter’s play was a stalemate, but Peabody
continued his onslaught of saved balls.

Extra padding was added to Louisville’s second quarter lead, as Kovacevic’s
offensive mindset scored in the third minute with a screeching 15-footer
past Waza’s field defenders and goalie. Kovacevic leads the team in goals,
and his constant berating of Detroit’s defense allowed Louisville’s multiple
goal opportunities.

“We stepped it up,” said Kovacevic. “First me, then the whole team. I really
have to give them credit.”

With Kovacevic’s leadership and Louisville beginning to settle into their
new perspective role as a new member of the PASL, the Lightning showed their
fans and Detroit what they are cable of by taking 3-0 lead into the locker
room.

“We switched some things defensively,” said Head Coach Scott Budnick. “We
put a lot of pressure on the team, which gave them less time with the ball.”

Louisville showed that they meant business in the opening stages of the
third quarter. Kovacevic’s scored an 18-foot free kick, which piloted
Louisville to 4-0 advantage over Detroit.

With a sense of urgency and strong teamwork, Louisville is beginning to look
like a well-oiled team.

“After the way we opened last week we knew we could play,” said Peabody.. “We
had to finish, and that was our mentality during the week.”

Detroit had a superior advantage in footwork skills. And it finally paid off
for them in the third quarter’s sixth minute when Dominic Scicluna scored
on Peabody with a 20-foot upper left kick. Detroit would score again off a
Scicluna corner kick assist to Doug Rice.

A scary moment took place mid third quarter as Peabody jumped up to deflect
a Detroit goal. As Peabody came down, the defender fell on his knee causing
it to pop. “I went up to clear the ball out and he fell on top of me,” said
the Lightning’s goalie. Peabody would shake off his injury and continue to
play. Louisville answered Waza’s attack on Peabody with an Adam Boyer goal
in the sixth minute.

There was no competition against the Lightning’s defense as they out saved
Detroit 17 to 21. Peabody continued to be a devastating force in the box,
and all of Louisville’s field defenders sacrificed their bodies, only
allowing the Waza to score a single fourth quarter goal.

The Lightning would score three goals in the fourth quarter, which is a
difference from last week when they squandered a fourth quarter lead to the
Cincinnati Express. But this week was different. The Lightning claimed an
8-3 victory over the Waza.

The Lightning’s next home game is a 7:30 start on December 11th at
Mockingbird Valley in US Open play.